Kenya PM meets top UK official

July 13, 2010 12:00 am

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By PMPS, NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 13 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said the coalition government is getting ready to legislate new laws required to anchor the new Constitution should it pass the August 4 referendum.

He expressed optimism that the proposed Constitution would sail through the plebiscite and the government was laying ground for a set of laws that would be required.

The PM was speaking when he received a delegation of senior government officials from the United Kingdom led by Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell.

Mr Odinga said Parliament would be extremely busy once the proposed Constitution sails through in the referendum but expressed confidence that MPs were equal to the task and ready to formulate new laws.

He however said the government may require technical assistance and additional expertise to ensure the required new laws are delivered in time.

The PM said the coalition government considers delivery of a new Constitution a key reform agenda that has to succeed as part of the Agenda Four of the National Accord.

Mr Mitchell said he is in the country to familiarise himself with the Kenyan coalition and also take stock of UK-sponsored programmes.

He said the new government was taking stock of its programmes around the world.

The Minister said Britain was keen to continue all its projects in Kenya, but wants value for money.

The PM assured the international community that the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission will be getting a new director and it will be strengthened to deal with corruption.

Mr Mitchell was accompanied by the head of the Department for International Development for Kenya and Somalia Alistair Fernie and British High Commissioner in Nairobi Rob Macaire.

He said Britain is following the Constitution referendum process with a lot of interest saying they would want the process to move successfully and was ready to offer technical assistance.

Talking about the situation in Somalia, Mr Odinga challenged the international community to accord the Somalia crisis the seriousness it deserved and expressed fears that the conflict in the troubled country may soon get out of hand.

He raised concern over the increase in cases of interception of firearms, detonators and bombs in the country saying it is a new development that could be linked to the lawlessness in Somalia.

Mr Odinga asked the international community to work out ways of containing the situation within Somalia.